One of the great things about Marin County, and living here, is the incredible appreciation people have for the land, and the way it has been preserved with parkland and farms. It’s also one of the factors that keep prices high, because that land is not being used for housing. There’s a new story in the Marin Independent Journal about the latest work or the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, or MALT, and their latest project in Tomales.

They are nothing short of remarkable. Using a combination of funding from donations and various government sources, they purchase development rights for farm land in West Marin, and create conservation easements with them. The owner of the farm gets a large lump sum cash payment for his rights, and the knowledge that the property will be preserved as farmland.

The public gets the value of seeing this beautiful, bucolic area preserved with little change. Wildlife benefits by keeping the land open.

It’s a win-win-win. It’s also one more factor that keeps housing prices stable in Marin County. No development means no more supply.

A lot of people find fault with this policy, at a time when affordable housing is a real problem in the Bay Area. I don’t.

I’m all for property rights. I’m also all for affordable housing. My job would be infinitely easier with more affordable inventory to sell.

But one thing that makes California, and Marin County a  great place to live  is the land. West Marin is a really special place, and needs to be preserved for future generations. I’d much rather see more housing, if necessary, constructed as in-fill along the Highway 101 corridor in Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Greenbrae, Larkspur, and San Rafael than plowing under the dairy farms of West Marin.

Not  an easy decision, by any means. But spend a day in driving through Pt. Reyes, Olema, or Nicasio, and see what you think. Better yet ride a bike.

To see how much land has already been preserved by MALT, and to learn more about them, go here.